SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — At a Tuesday night’s town council meeting, a favorable vote of 3 to 2 approved the purchase of new tanker truck that was requested by Fire Chief George Gorman. The truck will be replacing one destroyed in an accident in November.

A seven-year process for annual payments of $23,705 will go into effect, after a $54,000 down payment.

The town has relied on mutual aid in their surrounding communities for water when fighting fires and this could be an asset for their small community, according to Town Councilor Jean Demetracopoulos.

“I consider it an essential piece of equipment,” she said. Demetracopoulos also expressed she is not opposed to the truck purchase but she wanted to see the decision put to a vote. Town Council Chairman, Gerald W. MacPherson, Sr, voted in affirmation of the purchase.

“I based it on public safety. It is a piece of equipment that needed to be replaced. By going to another town meeting it would have delayed the process and I felt that wasn’t in the best interest for the town,” concluded MacPherson, who also confirmed the truck’s delivery will be sometime in early March.